Perfect Timing

Normally Monday nights are not super exciting for me since Greg is at work, but tonight I decided to have my own FHE. After I got home tonight from babysitting my cousins, I just got a feeling that I needed to go to the temple. Once I pulled up, I was only planning on staying a couple minutes so I didn't get out of the car. After sitting for about 5 minutes I was ready to start the car and head home to watch the Olympics. Instead for some reason I didnt. I got out of the car and sat on the grass. I could see the temple and a beautiful sunset. I sat thinking about life and realized that I have been a little stressed. While I was sitting in front of a beautiful sky, my Father in Heaven found just the right way to communicate with me exactly what I needed. It amazes me how in tune he is with my life. I know that he is always there for me, but it is days like today that remind you just how much he loves me. 

I am so grateful to have the faith and knowledge that I do. I do not know what I would do without my Heavenly Father looking out for me! I am a very lucky girl! 

Called to Serve

Greg and I had the opportunity to go to Denver this past weekend to support his sister Amanda who leaves for the MTC on Wednesday! It was so fun to spend the weekend with the Pagel family! We played fruit baseball, bocce, went shopping, watched the Olympic opening ceremonies. I could not ask to be part of a better family, other than my Parkin side of course!

The best part of the weekend though was listening to Amanda speak in church on Sunday. I think everyone in the building who was listening got emotional. It was fun to listen to her testimony, and realize just how great of a missionary she is going to be. We are very excited to watch her as she learns and grows during her next 18 month journey in San Diego. GOOD LUCK AMANDA!!

"Good Thoughts" Follow Up

So I have been working on my challenge for two weeks now. Thinking only good thoughts about everyone was not an easy task. I was not perfect, but I did learn a lot from this challenge. At first it was really hard to consciously find when negative thoughts entered my mind. The more I tried the better I did. At first it was really hard to force myself to think of positive thoughts to replace my negative. Although, as soon as I changed my attitude I found it so much easier to find the positive. It is so much easier to find good attributes in people now. This has been a great challenge for me. I definitely have a lot more work to do, but it has been a good journey so far. I highly reccommend this challenge to everyone!

America Day!

For the 4th of July we had a crazy day! We woke up early to go get a spot to watch the parade. We got a front row seat in the shade, well for the first half. We enjoyed all the old cars and parade balloons. One of my favorite floats was the Madagascar float. We enjoyed watching all of the excitement and craziness.
We went to the carnival and were able to get free Dryer's ice cream, which Greg was extremely excited about! We also went into a museum and saw the only working Gutenberg printing press in the world.
The best part of the day was having a bbq at our apartment. It was the first company we had over. We had some friends from our old ward over to hang out and party. Even though we had some stress with the grill and not the best burgers, it was a lot of fun to be with people we enjoy being around. After dinner we went and camped out to watch fireworks! We played phase 10 and enjoyed the spirit of the holiday!

GO AMERICA!!

Waiting for the parade to start

 Greg's favorite car from the parade

 The best balloons!!! 

Firework time!

Good Thoughts

So today at church a woman got up to bear her testimony and started talking about President Uchtdorf's talk in the last general conference about judging others. When I got home the first thing I did was listen to that talk again. Such amazing words. I started thinking about my life and wondered how often I tend to pass judgments on others without even stopping to think about what I am doing. I know this happens to me every day, multiple times a day. I get so caught up in what I think is right or what I think, I don't even stop to wonder why the person might be acting that way. I know that there have been multiple times when I act a certain way, or do certain things just because I am having a bad day or need some help. Instead of immediately judging someone I need to make sure I do as President Uchtdorf said and look at them as a son or daughter of God.
I also found a Mormon Message about this same topic. It was from one of President Monson's talks. He told a story about a lady who kept looking out her window at her neighbor hanging up her laundry. Day after day she judged her because her laundry was not clean. She wondered how she did not get taught how to clean. One morning she looks out the window and her neighbors laundry was clean. Then her husband told her that he had got up early that morning and washed their windows. How often do I cloud my own judgment? How often do I only see what I want to see, instead of what really is?
My goal this week is to do my best to think of only good things about others. When I think a negative thought I will have to come up with two good thoughts to replace it. I am excited to see how my outlook on others changes!
I will check in at the end of the week!

Wish Me Luck!